Machine for producing wood shavings



MACHINE FOR PRODUCING WOOD SHAVINGS Filed June 24, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet l23 ATTORNEY IN VN TOR. LUDW/G VOHR/NGER March 27, 1956 L. VOHRINGER2,739,627

MACHINE FOR PRODUCING WOOD SHAVINGS v Filed June 24, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet2 wow/a VD'HRINGER March 27, 1956 VOHRINGER 2,739,627

MACHINE FOR PRODUCING WOOD SHAVINGS Filed June 24, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 5IN VEN TOR. L UDW/G VOHR/NGER ATTORNEY f Uni States MACHINE non PnonUcmGWoon SHAVINGS Application June 24, 1952, Serial No. 295,299

6 Claims. (Cl. 144-42) The present invention relates to apparatus forthe production of wood chips or eXcelsior, and more particularly toapparatus for cutting wood chips or excelsior from logs or billets withcutting and separating knives or blades that are arranged on adisc-shaped rotary, tool carrier.

Apparatus, in which the tool carrier has a rotating cutting motion, hasthe advantage that the cutting blades only move in the cutting directionand have no reverse movement. Also there is avoided the possibility thatthe blades may be scratched and damaged by the frictional contact withthe wood in the return movement and that thereby the cutting capacity ofthe blades is prematurely lost.

In known apparatus employing a rotary tool carrier, however, the bladesor tools are arranged on the plane side of the disc-type tool carrier.As a result the tools do not wear uniformly.

One object of the present invention is to provide apparatus for theproduction of wood chips or excelsior with which not only may increasedcapacity be attained, but through which it is also possible to obtainincreased tool life.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine of this typewhich can operate practically continuously.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine of the typedescribed in which the thickness of the wood chips that are to be cutcan be adjusted and inwhich this adjustment can be effected, if desired,during operation of the machine.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine of the characterdescribed in which the cutting blades are mounted on the periphery of arotary head or carrier, and in which they are grouped in pairs spacedfrom one another around the periphery of the carrier, one blade or toolof each pair removing a slab or chip of the desired thickness from thelog or billet and the other blade of each pair cutting that slab or chipinto strips of the desired width.

Still another and very important object of this invention is to providea wood-shaving machine of the character described in which the cuttingblades or tools are mounted on a rotary carrier and yet the blades ortools are so moved relative to the work during cutting that the bladesor tools cut in a straight line producing a fiat slab or shaving ofsubstantially uniform thickness from end to end.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent hereinafter from thespecification and from the recital of the appended claims.

In a machine made according to this invention, the cutting toolscomprise planing blades and slitting blades arranged in pairs. Eachplaning blade has a tip cutting aent edge and is arranged at an angle toa tangent to the periphery of the tool carrier so that its tip cuttingedge projects along its whole cutting height beyond the periphery of thetool carrier. Each slitting blade has a plurality of cutting teethspaced along its height and abuts against the side of the associatedplaning tool along which the tip cutting edge is formed. The planingblades are adjustable in the directions of their inclination to thetangent. The slitting blades are adjustable toward and from the planingblades.

Preferably the tool carrier is provided on its periphery with threeuniformly spaced sets of planing and splitting blades, and these areassociated with four carrying devices for the workpieces likewiseuniformly arranged about the tool carrier and spaced from one another.In order to obtain a straight line out on the work there is a camarranged on the drive shaft of the tool carrier which imparts to each ofthe work carriers a swinging motion through a lever that is associatedwith the work carrier. Each work carrier has a cam slot that is engagedby a pin. Through this mechanism, the surface of the workpiece, which isto be operated upon, is maintained during cutting in the direction ofthe tangent to the path of the tool carrier and so the tools takestraight line cuts on each workpiece, producing thereby slabs or chip ofsubstantially uniform thickness from end to end.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a schematic plan view of apparatus built according to oneembodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of this apparatus;

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic plan view showing the control means for theswinging movement of the work carriers;

Fig. 4 is a schematic illustration showing the work carrier in oneposition;

Fig. 5 is a schematic illustration showing the work carrier in adifferent position;

Fig. 6 is a section through the tool carrier on the line 66 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is a more or less diagrammatic illustration of the one way clutchused to effect feed;

Fig. 8 is a side view of a work carrier;

Fig. 9 is a view of the work carrier taken at right anglesto the view ofFig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a plan view of the work carrier;

Fig. 11 is a detail vertical section through one of the work carriers;

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary horizontal section through the tool carrier onan enlarged scale and showing one set of planing and slitting blades;and

Fig. 13 is a view looking in the direction of the arrow A in Fig. 12.

Referring now to the drawings by numerals of reference, 20 denotes adisc-shaped rotary tool carrier on which three planing or peeling blades22 and three slitting blades 23 are arranged. The tool carrier 20 isprovided with three equi-angularly spaced, approximately circular bores25 which are parallel to the rotary axis of the tool carrier. Theplaning blades 22 and the slitting blades 23 are mounted in these bores.Each planing blade 22 has a tip-cutting edge at one side of its tip, andits tip 21 is re- Iieved back of said cutting edge in the direction ofrotation of the carrier as clearly shown in Fig. 12. The plan ing bladesare adapted to project along the whole heights of their tip cuttingedges beyond the periphery of the tool carrier. Each is mounted in thecarrier at an angle to a tangent to the periphery of the tool carrierand is adjustable in the direction of its extent, that is, at an angleto the tangent. Forthis purpose, each of the planing blades 22 isremovably fastened by screws 26 (Figs. 12 and 13) to a slide 27. Eachslide 27 has dove-tailed engagement with a bracket 28 and is mounted forslidable adjustment thereon. Each bracket 28 is fastened by screws 29 toa plane surface 30 that is formed on the wall of the associated bore 25and that extends inwardly from the periphery of the tool carrier 20. Ascrew 32 that threads into 6. lug 33, that is formed at the rear of eachbracket 28 and thatjis secured to the associated slide 27, serves toadjust each slide 27 on the associated bracket 28, thereby to adjust theextent of projection of the cutting edge of the associated blade 22beyond'the periphery of the'tool carrier 20. The bores 25 have openingsat the periphery 'of'the tool carrier out of which the planing blades 22project. Gbviouslyit is possible to effect adjustment of the'plan'ingblades in any other conventional manner.

Each slitting blade 23 has a plurality of cutting edges and is generallycomb-shaped, having a plurality of cutting teeth 36, as clearly shown inFig. 13. These teeth have sides that converge toward the tip of theslitting blade and each tooth may be relieved on its sides back of itsfront'face to provide keen sidecntting edges.

Each slitting blade 23 is secured 'by means of a clampingplate 37 (Fig.12'), a spacer 38, and screws 39'to a slide 40. Each slide 40 isadjustable by means of a screw 41. "Each screw 41 'is journaled in a lug42 formed on the corresponding slide 40 and threads into carrierlll.

The planing blades 22 and slitting blades 23 are arranged in spacedpairs around the tool carrier 20; and the slitting 'blade 23 associatedwith each planing blade 22 is arranged just back of the cutting edge ofthe associated planing blade 22 substantially perpendicular to theplaning blade and with its cutting teeth engaging 'the plane sidesurface of the planing blade. Each slitting blade 23 is positioned sothat its cutting teeth 36 are in position to engage a chip or slab ofwood, as it is cut from a log or billet by "the planing tool, to splitthis slab up into a pluralityof narrow strips suitable, for instance,for excelsior or for cooking in a sulphite bath to produce wood pulp.

The recesses or bores 25 are conical in shape, as clearly shown in Fig.6, and have their larger ends at their bottoms to expedite the falltherethrough of the wood shavings. The head or carrier 20 is hollow; andbetween the recesses or bores 25, it is provided with open-ended tubularreinforcing members 45.

About the tool carrier 20 are arranged a plurality of carriers for thework pieces 50. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention the toolcarrier 20 is provided about its 'periphery'with three uniformly-spacedsets of planing and slitting blades, and there are four work carriers.51 for the workpieces 5i) likewise uniformly spaced about theperipheryofth'e tool carrier. Each carrier comprises a supporting column52, an oscillatable table 57 which is swingable thereon, and a slide 53which is slidable on the table transversely of the table axis. Eachslide 53 Slides on ways 58 provided on top of the table, and has a tailportion '54 (Figs. 4 and 5) which is provided with an arcuate slot thatis eccentric of the axis of swing of the table. A fixed pin 56, that issecured in an extension 59 of the associated column 52, engages in thisslot to control the swingingmotion of the work carrier.

As is illustrated in Fig. 3,'thcre is arranged on the drive shaftfl)ofthe tool carrier 20 a cam 61 which imparts to to thework tables 57swinging motions about the axes of the shafts "'62. There is abell-crank lever 64 associated with'each carrier. Each lcver'64 ispivotally mounted on ashaft 65 that is fixed against rotation with thetool car rier '20. Each bell-crank lever 64 is connected by links and 67with one of the shafts 62 to oscillate that shaft asthecamfitl revolves.Through'the cam 61,'linkages 614, 66,'67,slots 55and'pins 56 (Figs. 4,'5 and '10.) each workpiece '50 ismaintained during cutting in thedirection of a tangent to the cutting path of the cutting tool 22 sothat straight sided slabs or chips of uniform thickness are cut fromthelogs-or billets.

The continuous control of the swinging motion of the blanks provided bythe arcuate slots 55 and pins 56 is necessary in order to obtain astraight line cut at the work pieces 50. This kind of cut might beobtained if the circular path, which the blank describes, had the sameradius as the tool carrier 20. In such case, however, it would benecessary to displace the rotary axes 62 of the work tables faroutwardly of axis 60. On this account it is preferable to controlthe-swinging motion of the blank constrainedly through arcuate slots 55and pins 56.

Each of the workpieces itself is held by a yoke which consistsessentially of two knurled rollers 70 and 71 which are adjustable towardor'from one another by amanually adjustable screw shaft 72 (Figs. 8 and10). One of the rollers, the roller 71 of .each set, is mountedon .ahead stock member 75 that is slidable on the associated slide 53. Eachscrew shaft 72 threads into this head stock member, being journaled in alug 76 that is integral with the associated slide 53. Ahandwheel 77 isprovided on each shaft 72 to permit of manual adjustment of each headstock member 75 and associated roller 71 toward and from associatedroller'70.

As is illustrated in Fig. 11 each head stock member has a rack 80secured to it with which there meshes a pinion 81. This permits of quickmovement of head stock member 75 toward and from operative position.Each pinion 81.1'sactuated by afoot lever 82 (Figs. 8 and 9) which ispivoted on the corresponding column '52. Each lever 82 is connected by arod 84 and link 85 (Fig. '11) with a shaft 86 with which one of thepinions '81 is integral. 'By depressing a'foot lever 82, then, theassociated head stock member 75 togetherwith the associated knurledroller '71 can be separated from the other roller 70 o'fa set to permitremoval of a log or billet from a work carrier or positioning of a logor billet therein. The separatin'g movement takes place against theaction of a spring 88 ('Fig. 8); and the'head stock member 75'is carriedback to initial position by said spring after release of the associatedfoot lever.

Thefeed of each blank 50 takes placethrough counterrotation of the'pairof rollers 70 and 71 of the associated yoke. Each pair of rollers isrotated by 'a worm shaft 90 (Fig. 8) that has right and left handthreads. The threads of each shaft 90 mesh, respectively, with warmwheels 92 and '93 secured to the shafts of the rollers 70 and 71 of aset.

The depthwise feed motion of the work may be automatic. On each swing ofeach work table 5.7 on its axis 62, a *depthwise feed movement isimparted to the" work "through operation of a one way clutch. Thisclutch operates in such way that the shaft 90 .is free during theswinging motion that takes place during'ithe cut, whereasit is operativeduring the opposed swinging motion.

The one way clutch consists of "a cam member 89 I (Fig; '7), apair ofrollers 91 and springs 94 for'urging these rollers into engagement witha clutch disc 95. Each disc 95 may be secured to associated worm shaft90. Each disc 95isrotatab1e on associated Shaft and is connected to oneend of an arm 96 whose other and is adjustably connected to a plate 97formingpart of a ball and socket joint (Fig. 2).

Plate 97 .is fastened-to one end of a rod 103 (Figs. 2' and 8) that'hasa second ball and socket connection I04 atits other end with theassociated column 52. For adjustment of the feed the length of each link'96 is adjusted on associated plate 97.

The drive to the machine is eifected in the illustrated example'by meansof a bevel pinion 98 and gear '99 (Fig. 2), the geanbeing secured to theshaft 60' of the tool carrier 20. The tool carrier is .fixedly securedto shaft .60. torotate therewith. The shaft 105, to which the pinion98.-is secured, runs beneath the -base .plate 1060f I3 I the machine.The columns 52 are mounted on this plate.

Within the tool carrier there are arranged sheaths 100 and 101 (Fig. 2)which enclose a space in which the shavings produced fall. Sheath 101 isconical. For carrying away the shavings out of this space, openings canbe provided in the sheath 100, and conveyor 102 can be disposed to passthrough this sheath to carry the shavings away.

The blank is mounted obviously in such manner that the planing blades 22cut in the direction of the fibers of the log.

The operation of the machine will be understood from the precedingdescription. As carrier revolves, planing blades 22 successively cutshavings or chips from the four workpieces disposed about the head; andas each blade 22 takes its cut, the work table 57 of the workpiece,which is engaged, is rocked about its shaft 62 and the associated slide53 is moved to maintain the log or billet tangent to the path ofrotation of the planing blade so that the blade will take a straightcut. This is efiected through cam 61, linkage 64, 66, 67 and arcuateslot and associated pin 56. As the slab or chip is cut from theworkpiece by a blade 22, the associated slitting blade 23 slices thatslab or chip into narrow strips suitable for excelsior, or for a pulpwood digesting operation. Between engagement of successive sets ofblades 22, 23 with a workpiece, the workpiece is fed forward by theassociated knurled rollers 70, 71 through operation of linkage 96, 193and the associated one-way clutch. Thus the several workpieces are fedstep-by-step between operations of successive sets of blades so thateach set of blades cuts ofi and slices a slab or chip from eachworkpiece, and feed alternates with cutting, and the machine operationgoes on continuously.

While the invention has been described in connection with a specificembodiment thereof, it will be understood that it is capable of furthermodification, and this application is intended to cover any variations,uses, or adaptations of the invention following, in general, theprinciples of the invention and including such departures from thepresent disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the artto which the invention pertains, and that may be applied to theessential features hereinbefore set forth and as fall within the scopeof the invention or the limits of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

l. A machine for production of wood shavings comprising a rotary toolcarrier, 21 planing blade having a tip cutting edge mounted in saidcarrier with its tip cutting edge projecting for its full height beyondthe periphery of said carrier, a support, a table oscillatable on saidsupport about an axis parallel to the axis of said carrier, a slide forholding a workpiece in position to be engaged by said blade, said slidebeing mounted on said table for reciprocation thereon in a directionperpendicular to the axis of said table, means for rotating saidcarrier, means for oscillating said table as said blade takes its cut onthe workpiece, and means for effecting reciprocation of said slideduring said oscillating movement comprising a slot and a pin engageabletherein, one of which is connected to the slide and the other of whichis secured to said support.

2. A machine for the production of wood shavings comprising a rotarytool carrier, a planing blade having a tip cutting edge mounted in saidcarrier to have its tip cutting edge projecting along its whole heightbeyond the periphery of said carrier, a support, a table oscillatable onsaid support about an axis parallel to the axis of said carrier, a slidereciprocable on said table in a direction perpendicular to the axis ofsaid table, work supporting means movably mounted on said table andoperable to hold and feed the work, means for rotating said carrier,means connecting said rotating means to said table to oscillate saidtable as said blade takes its out on the work, means for etfectingreciprocation of said slide during said oscillating movement comprisinga slot and a pin engageable therein, one of which is connected to theslide and the other of which is secured to said support, and meansconnecting said support to said table actuated by oscillation of saidtable for actuating the work supporting means to feed the workpiecetoward the carrier on swing of said table in one direction and betweensuccessive engagements therewith of the blade.

3. A machine for production of wood shavings, comprising a rotary toolcarrier, a planing blade having a tip cutting edge and having its tipsurface relieved back of said cutting edge to provide cutting clearance,said blade being mounted in said carrier to have its tip cutting edgeprojecting along its whole height beyond the periphery of said carrierand to have its tip surface extending generally in the direction ofrotation of said carrier, a support, a member mounted on said supportfor oscillation about an axis parallel to the axis of said carrier, worksupporting means movably mounted on said member and operable to hold andfeed the work, means for rotating said carrier, means for oscillatingsaid member as said blade takes its out on the work, and means includinga one-way clutch for actuating said supporting means to effect feed ofthe work on swing of said member in one direction and between successiveengagements therewith of said blade.

4. A machine for production of wood shavings, comprising a rotary toolcarrier, a planing blade having a tip cutting edge and mounted in saidcarrier to have its tip cutting edge projecting along its whole heightbeyond the periphery of said carrier, and means for supporting the workin position to be engaged by said blade as the carrier revolves, saidmeans comprising a pair of knurled rollers adapted to clamp the workbetween them and rotatable on parallel axes to feed the work toward andfrom the carrier, means for rotating said carrier, means connected tothe carrier rotating means and driven in time with said carrier foroscillating said supporting means as said blade takes its out, meansoperatively connected to said supporting means for controlling themovement of said supporting means during oscillation thereof to causethe blade to cut in a straight line through the work, and meansoperative after each cutting passage of said blade to impart to the tworollers stepwise movements in opposite directions on their respectiveaxes to effect feed of the work on swing of said supporting means in onedirection and between successive engagements therewith of said blade.

5. A machine for production of wood shavings comprising a rotary toolcarrier, at planing blade having a tip cutting edge and mounted in saidcarrier to have its tip cutting edge project along its whole heightbeyond the periphery of said carrier, means for rotating said carrier,and means for supporting a workpiece in position to be engaged by saidblade as the carrier rotates, said supporting means comprising a pair ofrollers positioned to rotate on axes parallel to one another andparallel to the axis of said carrier and adapted to clamp a workpiecebetween them, and means for intermittently rotating said rollers inopposite directions to effect depthwise feed of the workpiece, saidlast-named means comprising a shaft having two axially spaced threads ofopposite hand, respectively, and a wormwheel secured to each roller.

6. A machine for the production of wood shavings comprising a rotarytool carrier, a planing blade having a tip cutting edge and positionedin said carrier to have its tip cutting edge projecting for its fullheight beyond the periphery of said carrier, a support, a memberoscillatable on said support, supporting means movably mounted on saidmember and adapted to carry a workpiece, means for rotating saidcarrier, means for oscillating said support to control the path ofmovement of the blade during cutting of the workpiece, and means formoving said supporting means to effect feed of the workpiece comprisinga one-way clutch, a shaft driven thereby and operatively connected tosaid supporting means to move the

